Wizard-inspired group waves wand at everyday problems

EMILY TUBB/ Buy at photos.monroecountyjournal.comFlannery Plum explains how to write a Howler to state representatives as Dumbledore watches. The Amory Wizards for Muggle Rights will meet again March 27 at the Amory Municipal Library.

AMORY – Twelve-year-old Flannery Plum is using parallels from “Harry Potter” to help fight real world problems by starting a local chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance.
“I read about it online one day and, since there were no chapters in Mississippi, I decided to start one,” said Plum, who says she’s been a “Harry Potter” fan since the second grade.
The Amory Wizards for Muggle Rights held its first meeting at the Amory Municipal Library on Jan. 30, where Plum delivered a speech explaining what the Harry Potter Alliance is about.
“Even if you haven’t read “Harry Potter,” you may have seen the movies and even if you haven’t, you might know a little about it. But do you know just how much it relates to our world? The HPA is not like a real Dumbeldore’s Army. It IS the real Dumbeldore’s Army, fighting death eaters like illiteracy and discrimination,” Plum said.
The chapter met again Feb. 27 at the library to sort bags and egg cartons they collected for the Amory Food Pantry and to write Howlers, or letters, to Mississippi State Legislators regarding Senate Bill 2681.
“There was a bill that passed that has discriminatory language in it and we brought Howlers to give out in case anyone wants to write letters,” Plum said.
One of the missions of the Amory Wizards for Muggle Rights group is to promote change through the magic of tolerance and love.
“The message I get from “Harry Potter” is that it doesn’t matter how much bad there is in the world; if there is still love and friendship and loyalty, none of the bad matters, and there can still be change. No matter how old you are, or what you look like, or where you come from, or any of the things people think we are defined by today, you can still help fight evil, or change the world, or do good. No matter how small your actions are, you can help make change,” Plum said.
The Amory Wizards for Muggle Rights will be collecting books throughout the month to donate to BetterWorldBooks, an online book store that funds worldwide literacy initiatives. The next meeting is scheduled for March 27 at the Amory Municipal Library at 6:30 p.m. and is open to all.
Those interested in donating books or participating in the Amory Wizards for Muggle Rights Chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance can contact Plum at 315-6623 or go to the Amory Wizards for Muggle Rights Facebook page.

2 Responses to Wizard-inspired group waves wand at everyday problems

Is there a typo in this article? Senate Bill 2681 is the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It does two things. The first is put “In God We Trust” on the Mississippi seal (good idea) and the second is protect the religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. (great idea). Since I can’t fathom that children, on their own, could find any fault with either of these ideas, I can only assume that there is a typo.

This is so fantastic! These kids are working hard to make a difference in the lives of people close to home as well as across the world. They are collecting supplies for the Amory Food Pantry and books to help fight illiteracy. Clearly they were on to something as far as the senate bill goes because lawmakers took out anything from the bill that could lead to discrimination and have left the addition of “In God We Trust” to the state motto. I cannot wait to see what wonderful things Miss Plum has in store for the community. Thank you for getting the word out about this promising group and it’s amazing young leader!